Why Talking About Mental Health is So Important

With millions of Americans being affected by mental illness every year, it’s important to address this issue and talk about the impacts.

Approximately 1 in 5 adults, 43.8 million Americans, experience some form of mental illness in a given year.¹ The topic of mental illness has been difficult to openly discuss over the years and many people view mental health with a negative stigma. With these issues becoming increasingly prevalent, it’s imperative that we move mental health to the forefront of conversation topics and have transparent discussions about how we are truly feeling. At Banyan Mental Health, we stress the importance of effectively communicating the negative thoughts and feelings that many people face.

Why To Start Talking About Mental Health

The importance of talking about mental health cannot be overstressed. As a part of our mental health programs in South Florida, we work with patients that are all too often afraid to talk about their mental health disorders outside of treatment. Because of this, we want people to understand the benefits of talking about mental health and encourage people to talk openly about mental health.

1. Remove the Stigma - By talking about mental illness on a more regular basis, we as a society will hopefully unveil the false notions that plague this topic. When these myths are debunked, it should help remove the stigma surrounding mental health.
2. Mental Health Disorders are Growing - The prevalence of some mental health disorders has risen in the past few decades. One study found that the occurrences of Major Depressive Episode in the youth have increased from 11.93% to 12.63% in one year.² As more people are affected by these issues, it just proves that you are no longer alone in your struggles and talking about mental health should be more acceptable.
3. Promote Treatment & Decrease Rate of Suicides - Of the many reasons why we need to talk about mental health, this is arguably the most important. Because mental health is so taboo, too many people are not getting the treatment they need. In turn, their poor mental health could lead to suicide. One research study found that over 90% of people who commit suicide had symptoms of a mental health disorder.³

Open dialogue about mental health can help everyone heal. What people don’t realize is that there are numerous ways to effectively treat mental illness and you can live a normal lifestyle by learning how to properly manage your mental health disorder symptoms. The state of your mental health affects how you think, feel, and ultimately how you act. It’s crucial that we express these emotions with others on a daily basis. By talking about mental health openly, more people may be encouraged to seek professional help like our Florida residential mental health program.

Who to Talk About Your Mental Health With

Opening up about your mental illness will allow you to express how you truly feel and it gives others a chance to help you by guiding you through the difficult times. If you are experiencing any form of depression, or if you constantly experience negative thought patterns, seeking help with our mood and anxiety treatment programs in Boca will be extremely beneficial for your wellbeing. Visiting a therapist once a week will also aid in this process and you will start to feel the positive effects of opening up immediately. Banyan Mental Health also suggests that you lean on your loved ones in times of need and confide in someone about your struggles. You can talk about your problems with a trusted family member, friend, mentor, or therapist. Bottling up these thoughts could potentially turn into a bigger issue.

Tips For Talking About Mental Health

Talking about your mental health is important, but it can be difficult to open up. If you are struggling to talk about your mental health, we have a few tips.

• Write a letter if you are afraid to talk face-to-face.
• Talk to someone who doesn’t know you such as a therapist or psychologist if you don’t feel comfortable talking to a loved one.
• Start by journaling and then transition to speaking.
• Practice speaking in the mirror before you talk to someone if you are struggling to do so.
• Remember that you will probably feel a great sense of relief after talking with someone.
• Remember that you are not alone.

As a community we must do more to help our loved ones by supporting them through the dark days and talking about their mental health will spark the initial action. With suicide rates increasing, we must come together and find positive ways to involve ourselves in the conversation and ultimately get our loved ones the help they need before it’s too late.

If you or a loved one are experiencing depression or even suicidal thoughts contact our treatment center today to learn more about our programs and how we can guide you on the right path. Call today at 888-280-4763.

Sources:

1. National Alliance on Mental Illnesses - Mental Health By The Numbers
2. Mental Health America - The State of Mental Health in America
3. NCBI - Psychological autopsy studies--a review